PLANTS IN LORI AND KOTAYK TO PRODUCE GARLIC POWDER AND MUSHROOMS

YEREVAN, MAY 29, ARMENPRESS:A small factory in the village of Ghursal in the northeastern province of Lori will resume soon production of garlic power after new modern equipment is installed. This project is part of a bigger program for development of small agricultural enterprises and trade supported by World Bank. The cost of this project is 11.8 million Drams. Armen Galoyan, head of the plant, told Armenpress that last year a pilot project was launched for cultivation of garlic on 1.5 hectares of land. The yield was quite high. Powder produced from last year’s harvest was sold to food and pharmaceutical companies and the Defense Ministry. This year the expected yield is about 18 tons and 12 tons will be processed to produce 2 tons of powder. The plant will be able to process some 300 kg of garlic daily and in this sense it will be the only plant in the region and part of its produces will be sold outside Armenia. According to Armen Galoyan next year the land under garlic will be expanded. The World Bank also helps to carry out another agricultural project for growing mushrooms in the village of Kaputan in central Kotayk province. The cost of this project is estimated at 11.7 million Drams. Andranik Grigorian, chief manager of Amexon company, said they tested two kinds of ecologically clean mushrooms last year. The company plans to sell its produces in fresh form and as preserves. He said the company is developing its own website to post information to all potential buyers about its produces. Gagik Khachatrian, coordinator of the World Bank supported program, says as a result locally produced goods will drive imported ones out of market.